Update on Electoral Reform – Disappointment in Parliament

A disappointment in Parliament on Wednesday, when the Liberals used their majority to defeat a motion to accept recommendations from the Special Committee on Electoral Reform. It was a slim majority in a vote of 159-146, with two courageous Liberal MPs Nathaniel Eskine-Smith and Sean Casey voting with integrity and expressing the will of their constituents by voting in favour of the motion. All Bloc Quebecois, NDP, and Conservative MPs voted for the ERRE report.

Despite the day’s defeat in Parliament, I am not giving up. I will continue to hold the government to account. Canadians trusted the Liberal promises made to reform the unfair voting system and make every vote count – that trust is broken.

The cross-partisan recommendations from the Special Committee on Electoral Reform offered the Liberals a roadmap to select a fair and democratic voting system, one that maintained a link between constituents and their local MPs. They now risk squandering a golden opportunity to create better government for all Canadians.

In British Columbia, thanks to the BC Greens now holding the balance of power, they will move to electoral reform. A referendum in fall of 2018 will determine which form of voting system BC will achieve. I’m confident we will witness in British Columbia how electoral reform can change politics for the better and their success will guarantee the issue stays on the political agenda.

The wind is in our sails and we are going to win! Electoral reform will be a reality for Canadians.

Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on this issue.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth May, OC Member of Parliament Saanich-Gulf Islands Leader of the Green Party of Canada